Varun Gandhi leaves for Pilibhit, likely to court arrest today

On Friday, Varun Gandhi withdrew his anticipatory bail application from the Delhi High Court. The court had granted him anticipatory bail on March 20.

Varun took the decision to withdraw the bail application after the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected his petition seeking quashing of two FIRs registered against him for his speeches in Pilibhit on March 7 and 8.

He was accused of making inflammatory communal remarks at election meetings in his constituency on March 6.

The Election Commission issued a notice to Varun, charging him of violating the Model Code of Conduct for elections by making communal remarks.

Following the Election Commission notice, the Pilibhit police filed an FIR under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act. (ANI)